When you have to wait 20 minutes on a Wednesday evening something good is happening. Great service and suggestions from our server and a good bar and drink menu. Appetizers were great and an added treat of dessert Zeppole as a complimentary item. Food was great no complaints on anything and portions enough for a second home treat. Great selection of background music and a lively vibe. read more

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The food was outstanding and portions were HUGE. Go early and enjoy a drink at the bar.

Get the veal! It's so amazing! I go here Everytime I visit Albany. You definitely need a reservation. Servers are amazing personality wise but the service can be a little slow. Go when you want to have an amazing meal and sip some wine. read more

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I met a friend for dinner at D'Raymonds and my dinner was incredible- I had the Bistecca Al Forno: tender slices of charbroiled sirloin topped with their signature forno sauce (a bold, savory mix of tomatoes, hot cherry peppers, basil, garlic, oil, and Chianti wine) and finished under the broiler with bubbling mozzarella cheese. I paired it with creamy, pepper-flecked Alfredo on the side and ate yes I ate my entire dinner it was SO good. It is hard to get in here but worth the wait! read more

D'Raymonds - Lemon Drop - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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My mouth dropped when I saw the rating that D'Raymond's has on Yelp! This is one of my top two favorite Italian spots in the area. I love it so much that I asked my family to take me there for my birthday, and my boyfriend took me here when I got laid off to cheer me up! :) I have never been disappointed by D'Raymond's--ever. Their portions are huge, I always look forward to the complimentary fried dough buns because they're so good, the bread is fresh, and the food is mouthwatering. Their menu is diverse and has something for everyone--fish lovers, veal enthusiasts, and pasta fans. Some of my favorite appetizers are the antipasti, their massive mozzarella caruso (so cheesy and delicious!), and their Sicilian meatballs. This time, for my birthday, I had the manicotti--crepe-style pasta filled with ricotta cheese and fresh spinach, with the option of sausage, homemade meatballs, or both. And you bet I tried both. I definitely enjoyed the meatballs more! But I think my favorite entrée so far has been the Lobster Ravioli--the filling is insanely good, they definitely don't skimp on the lobster, and it's super filling. For dessert, my favorite so far is the chocolate toll house cake--it just hits different! But I've also had their cannoli, lava cake, and turtle cheesecake--all amazing. The staff at D'Raymond's are always so sweet and patient. D'Raymond's, you'll always be a favorite! read more

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Service was terrible, atmosphere is dingy and the bathroom was gross. The waiter came to our table insinuating we should leave because there were a lot of people waiting to be sat!!! Meanwhile I had most of a drink I still had to finish / mind you, we were there a normal amount of time for dinner. He made it seem like we were squatters there for half the night eating only bread and water. As well as the hostess also stopping by to see if we needed anything else to rush us out. Very unprofessional of this restaurant. I clearly won't be spending money at this restaurant again nor recommend them. read more

Our service was very good. This place was packed. The bar, the restaurant and take out was hopping. My only complaint was we were seated in the bar area so it was very noisy. I made the reservation three weeks ahead. They had no tables to move us to. And they really didn't! But the food was amazing! Everyone was delighted with their meals. The sauce is delicious and I loved their cheesy garlic bread! Was delighted with the complimentary fried dough! It was such a treat! Just make sure you make reservations. This place is happening. There are I think two booths near the bar. You may want to mention if you dont want to be seated there it's not horrible but we had two people with hearing problems! We will definitely be back to try other entrees! read more

Food and service was outstanding. This place lives up to its reputation. Really appreciate the unique "pre-dinner" touch offered here. They were very tasty....and appreciated. read more

Traditional east coast style Italian that deserves all the praise and hype they get. People say this is the #1 best restaurant in Albany area and it's easy to see why. The portions are double the size of what I'm accustomed to on the west coast, so we all took home leftovers. For 3 people we clearly over ordered with an app, 3 entrees and one veggie side dish. The gnocchi with duck appetizer special was quite rich, so we all had a small taste and took the rest home. Pretty sure no matter what your entree is, you can't go wrong. The Linguine Pescatore was delicious and something about it tasted even better reheated the 2nd night. My BF loved his Pesce Alfredo and the creamy Alfredo sauce was creamy but not nauseatingly rich. They have a very strict no substitutions or change policy, which I understand ensures every dish is uniform and reliably delicious; however for people with allergies or food sensitivities this might not be the place for you. My mom can't tolerate spicy food, so she ordered most basic pasta and meatball, only to discover that was too spicy for her (tasted great to me when it was reheated 3 nights later). The side of spinach was delicious albeit not a light, bright spinach; more of an oily spinach garlic, tomato dish. When we arrived on a Friday night, where reservations appear to be essential, we were greeted by a lovely hostess. Our server was terrific, ready to explain every dish, super friendly (but not overly so) and had a wonderful sense of humor. No wonder this place ranks so highly. read more

First time to enjoy this restaurant. Fabulous dinner and service! Had an eggplant my favorite choice in Italian restaurants. It was excellent read more

Service was good! Food was very good! Ambiance was nice but a little on the noisy side! read more

The food is still good but the antipasto seems to get smaller every time I go and the same thing with my veal definitely a smaller portion than what you normally had gotten in the past along with an increase in price still good but not great like in the past read more

Everything was absolutely incredible, but the stuffed rigatoni (Thursday special) stole the show! Eric's service was absolutely fantastic and the food/experience was certainly worth the wait!! We will be coming back soon! read more

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It had been several years since we dined at my wife's favorite Italian restaurant for sauce, D'Raymonds. It always seemed like a hassle to get someone to answer the phone to make a reservation. And of course, it was always necessary to make plans well in advance to assure the availability of a table on the day and time of your choosing. We are more last-minute decision makers than advance planners, so we frequently are disappointed at the unavailability of a reservation. We decided to try something different this time. Take-out! We called on a Saturday about an hour after they opened, did not have to wait too long for the phone to be answered, and were asked to hold while a server was summoned to take our order. We were able to specify a pickup time of 5 pm without any problem. There is a separate door on the side of the building for retrieving takeout orders. It opens directly into the back dining room. Our order was actually all packed and sitting on a counter waiting for pickup, but I was not aware that it was for us. A server asked if I was picking up an order, and when I replied in the affirmative, they said they would alert the server who took our order over the phone. From that point everything was normal. I paid for our food and was on my way home. Our dinners were excellent - Scaloppe Di Vitello Alla D'Raymonds ($28), and Scaloppe Alla Francesa ($28). The veal D'Raymonds was tender veal sauteed in olive oil and garlic with tomatoes, mushrooms and sweet peppers, with hot Italian sausage and herbs. Delicious! The sausage was very tasty too. The veal Francesa had veal dipped in seasoned egg batter with lemon, sauteed and served on a bed of sauteed escarole. Delicious also! Did I forget to mention that our meals included sides of spaghetti, Italian bread, and butter? There was plenty of good food to enjoy a second day. read more

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We love D'Raymonds and will make it a point to eat there any time we are in the area. Solange is an amazing waitress and the food is always outstanding. We've never had a bad meal! We also love the cozy atmosphere. Try their version of chicken cordon bleu or the chicken Frangelico. SOOO GOOD!!!! read more

My bestie and I decided to go for Italian on this rainy day to D'Raymonds. We didn't make reservations and were very lucky to get a table due to the place was packed. I felt like I was in little Italy; people laughing and talking reminded me of family dinners. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating. We received 2 rolls that were very soft on the inside and crusty on the outside. Next was the leafy greens salad. Very tasty with Black Olive Feta Vinaigrette dressing, homemade croutons and marinaded tomatoes and red peppers. Our meals came they both were hot off the grill! My meal was Capellini Pomodoro Grande Shrimp, mussels and spinach served in a plum tomato white wine clam sauce over capellini pasta. This was to die for! They asked if you want fresh grated parmesan cheese that she graded before I could snap the photo. Oh well ‍ Definitely coming back! read more

D'Raymonds - Capellini con spinach, mussels and shimp - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Although I have heard of D'Raymonds, I had never been there. Friends made the reservation and I went to meet them. Great service - very timely even though the place was super busy. Very professional servers. The food was utterly unbelievable! Huge portions, everything was prepared to perfection. I had chicken with eggplant and I was astonished by how delicious it was, surpassing every expectation. The place was festive and while crowded, it was not too loud, which was great. I will be back! read more

Excellent food and service. Highly recommended. My chicken parm and my wife's spaghetti with meatballs were both delicious.

I stopped into this restaurant this afternoon with a coworker as I was in the Albany area. I've never heard of this restaurant, but was so excited to find the quantity of reviews on yelp. When we rolled in, we found out that they won the war for the best Italian restaurant in all of Albany for 15 years in a row, can you believe that they beat the Olive Garden for this honor? I had the chicken Parm and it was tasty. read more

Old school Italian restaurant that came highly recommended by two of my cousins. This was a great experience in a world of the ordinary. The menu is extensive, the service attentive, and the ambiance is definitely not modern and sterile...which in this instance is a good thing. If you crave real Italian food with reasonable prices and generous portions this may be the perfect fit...Buon Appetito! read more

This is a classic, old school Italian joint. Absolutely amazing food. You can tell everything is made fresh, in house, and with care. The service was great too. Truly a classic restaurant everyone should experience. read more

D'Raymonds - Chicken Sorrentino - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Great food and service. Make a reservation or you probably won"t get in. Staff was very courteous and or dinners were great.

been calling for hours for a reservation for our anniversary but nobody seems to be answering. literally been calling every second for hours and they opened at 11;30am, must not want my business. I only live down the street and this was our anniversary spot for years . Maybe not anymore , too bad ;( read more

I feel like the yelpers aren't getting a fair review of this place. I grazed the negative reviews about business and the need for a reservation. All I can say is suck it up and make a reservation. I never do and have been disappointed once or twice, but if you're just one or two, try the bar. This was a low budget visit, just some appetizers and wine, but the veal here is amazing, the bolognese divine, and you have to try the Duck Wings! I had the diver Scallops and the bacon wrapped shrimp. Also amazing! Mike at the bar is a friend of mine he gets me my drinks for a reasonable price... read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants when I am in the Albany area. They have a stuffed veal chop that is to die for. They also have their version of chicken Cordon Bleu, which is unbelievable. All of their food is excellent. read more

D'Raymond's never disappoints! I've been here several times and I have loved the experience every time. The food was delicious and the service was great. As we sat there I noticed that they had several regulars customers who were treated like family, that says a lot about a restaurant and their staff. Our meals were so good the sauce was thick but not acidic, and I love their eggplant dishes so of course I tried the eggplant rollatini, delicious. My sister loves her steak and she likes it rare. She said it was cooked perfectly. Overall we had another great experience here and would definitely recommend and come back. read more

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Looking forward to dining here since before Covid. We came as a first timer for our anniversary dinner on a Monday at 4:30. We ordered expensive beef entrees and probably would have been happier with a pasta, chicken, or veal dish as entrees and the selection of different appetizers. Drinks: Brooklyn Summer Ale and glass of Prosecco. Cheers! Bread came to table with two dips and a flavored butter. Two delicious Fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar also came. I enjoyed one, but my husband had no interest. It might have been more appreciated if we were having drinks. Apps were 2 Stars: Clams Casino -- disappointing Would have gladly paid $12.00 or more if they were prepared well. --Stuffing/bread mix was watery and there was no seasoning other than the piece of bacon on top. Tuscan Calamara -- not worth the $14. cost Breading fell off all the tiny calamari pieces. Couple of olive bits and arugula were included. Served with a firm cooked tomato not a sauce. Entrees: 1. Filet Mignon with Lobster Tails ($37.) I ordered medium but the filet was rare. Lobster tails were very small, maybe 3 oz. at best. Sauce was very good. Side of boiled red potatoes and green beans was good. 2. Twin Tornado del Marsala ($33.) Beef was tender for the most part, and the sauce was delicious. Desserts to go: Small slices of PB Pie and Key Lime Pie Please check out the photos I have posted. Service was 5 Stars! Friendly and experienced. The physical space needs a few updates. For example, we sat in a booth. The back of my seat moved and made noise each time the guy in the booth behind me shifted position. The bathroom did not have a hook to hold handbag. It appeared that many affluent diners were in attendance. A well stocked attractive large bar was near the entranceway. After using our $100. Gift Card, our bill was $45.00. Plus tip, of course. read more

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Just a great red sauce place, meetballs are top notch but don't miss the veal. The pizza frets are a nice touch. Service can feel a bit rushed but they don't kick you out read more

Went here last week with a large group. Very disappointed. We were seated about 20-30 minutes after our reservation time. Not a big deal as we stood and visited. Unfortunately if you aren't seated at the bar there is nowhere to stand that you aren't in the way. Service was prompt considering the size of our group and considerate. However I was extremely disappointed in my entree. (Many liked their dishes, others not impressed with theirs.) I ordered the Linguine alle Vongole (linguine with clams) with red sauce. I received a smallish dish of linguine with just four small clams -- could they spare them? I thought perhaps the sauce had chopped clams to compensate. No. Plain sauce with three small pieces of garlic. The sauce was tasty. A small bowl of linguine with plain sauce and four small clams -- for almost $30! And that's it. No salad to start except for an extra charge. The place was busy which bewildered me. And they supposedly have been deemed the best Italian restaurant in the area for a number of years? Who has been doing the voting? I and a couple in my group said never again. There are too many better Italian restaurants in the Capital District at more reasonable prices. read more

This is hands down the best place around to get pasta dishes. They are amazingly prepared. I have never had a bad meal here. The servers are always a pleasure, super helpful and attentive. It is always busy but with this place that is a good thing. It always has a nice atmosphere to chat and eat. read more

This is without a doubt the best Italian lunch in the Capital District. Solange & Gretchen hold it down and take care of their regulars. Really sad that they removed the chicken sorrentino from the menu entirely, that was by far my favorite dish. Chicken frangelico is a nice alternative. All of the sauces here are on point (many are very rich, but so are the patrons ) They just revamped their menu. Nothing but good things to say about a classic restaurant that never fails to deliver a great experience. read more

My bride's birthday dinner at D'Raymond's Fri 1/19/24. Last minute decision. No reservation which is a non-starter for this popular restaurant. But we gave it a shot at 5:15pm. Found one seat at the bar next to a regular getting her takeout order. Friendly patron moved down in both directions so all that wanted a bar seat were accommodated. Just another example of the friendly atmosphere here. Phone was ringing off the hook. But the night bartender (?) & the hostess managed all professionally & with a smile while greeting every customer. A house pinot grigio ($8.50) & a Jameson on the rocks ($16). Let the bartender know we were not in a hurry and he could take our order when he could. We order three small plates between us from the chalkboard. Garden salad ($7), scallops au gratin ($18) - a generous portion well prepared & served piping hot, stuffed (layered) roasted red peppers w/ prosciutto, mozzarella, & toasty bread crumbs ($12) - enough for two, served hot w/ some crusty Italian bread. A real feast. Dinner reservations are a must. This time were early enough to get bar seats. But not everyone likes to roll the dice. Hours: Tuesday 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9:30PM Wednesday 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9:30PM Thursday 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9:30PM Friday 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9:30PM Saturday 3-9:30PM Sunday Closed Monday 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9PM Plenty of parking & handicap accessible A tried & true favorite of many in the Capital District. Thank you to all the staff. We had a great time & every time Nicola & Liz, Albany, NY read more

The service and food were excellent! Only downside was we couldn't get a booth in the dining room.

I've been looking forward to trying this place but not sure I'll go back. I went for lunch with my husband and young son. Definitely not a family friendly restaurant. They didn't have a booster seat or high chair. Ok I'll deal with it but I felt like everyone looked at us like we had 7 heads each or something. It felt weird. The truffle fries with aioli was phenomenal! I would go order take out of just that again for sure. The veal parm and picatta with rigatoni were average. Like not bad but nothing to write home about. Our waiter charged us dinner prices initially so luckily I was paying attention. Not sure I will return for dine in again. read more

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Ambiance was warm and inviting on a very cold winter evening! Service was impeccable - even though we did not have a reservation (trust me - make a reservation - it was a week night and they were sold out - so we ate at the bar). The food.... Wow, I had the Cavatelli Bolognese. First off it was a great to find a non-chain restaurant near our hotel. Second - you can't get bolognese just anywhere and the portion was generous. My boyfriend had two starters/app's for is dinner. Braised short rib ravioli and gambari scampi - Oh My! Sorry, I did not get pics but we wish this restaurant was close to home. read more

I don't know where to begin - the food is magical and the staff is exceptional! Visiting for work a local colleague took us to dinner and couldn't stop raving about the food. I was apprehensive because of the reviews and her opinion did not disappoint. The bread is accompanied with balsamic vinegar and oil, a red pepper dip, and the creamiest garlic butter that I've ever tasted. The best ever! I ordered the Oreccitte Frascati - pasta tossed with a light white wine, San Marzano plum tomato sauce, basil, pancetta, crumbled meatballs and spinach, topped with goat cheese. The first bite was perfection and the fresh pasta and the light sauce with meatballs melted in my mouth. I didn't want to stop eating it. I saved just enough room for the fried bread and OH. MY! A thicker and chewier version of a funnel cake and I was in Heaven. Difficult to get a reservation, you better be on time, and I guarantee it's worth it! read more

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Visited today ordered lasagna wasn't aware the recipe contains sausage. As a patrons who subscribes to a specific religious diet I was disappointed that the menu didn't reflect that ingredient. The waitress made an accommodation and the ravioli appetizer arrived with spinach all over the top of it. Needless to say, I don't like spinach. The waitress rudely exclaimed I'm sure they won't remove that from your bill! I didn't request anything to be removed from my bill,! Very disappointed as this was one of my favorite restaurants! read more

The best Italian food I've ever had. Service was excellent. Veal sorrento and veal Marsala were top tier. Portions were huge and flavor was not lacking. There was not one bland thing we ate. Calamari was super fresh. Even the complementary bread with a trio of things to dip is super good. Don't know how everyone's review isn't a 5 star read more

Great spot found in Yelp. I had been to Albany a few times the past couple of years. We found this restaurant one later afternoon as a place to have a celebratory lunch with family and friends. It had some great reviews and cool history. The food was really good. The service was very good and I would not only recommend but would go back again when in town. You could see it had been around a while and many locals enjoy it there. Good sign. Still quality shined through here. Good Italian joint for sure. read more

Came in with a group of four. I love Italian food so it wasn't hard to convince. First thing you notice is that it was extremely busy. A Tuesday night and it was packed. So we sat at the bar and ordered and drink to wait for our table. When we were seated I was surprised that it was designed more like a breakfast cafe with old style booths and bench seating. First of all, despite the decore, you knew you were somewhere special. The restaurant was packed with locals. The staff were all excellent and the atmosphere was buzzing with vibrant diners. The table shared Italian greens and beans and a plate of Sicilian meatballs. Wow. They were simply amazing and a great start to the meal. Lots of perfectly matched spices and two wonderful dishes. For a main I had the Scaloppe Alle Tre Mostarde, veal and mushrooms in a three mustard sauce. It was simply incredible and I would highly recommend. The veal was so tender and the sauce was perfection. Compliments were sent back to the chef. If you are in Albany and are looking for a fantastic meal, then this is a must. Book ahead. read more

D'Raymonds - Meatballs with a spicy spinach base - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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